Four months after an anabolic steroid cycle, the production of hormones such as LH and FSH, which stimulate the testes to produce testosterone, will be recovered - but this does not apply to the production of testosterone. This is apparent from a meta-analysis that Greek endocrinologists at the University of Ioannina published in Sports Medicine.

Study

The researchers traced 11 previously published studies in which researchers had determined the concentration of LH, FSH and testosterone in a few dozen steroids users before, during and after their cycle, which they could use for their meta-analysis. The oldest studies date from the mid-1980s.

In the collected studies, the researchers looked at the recovery of FSH and LH concentrations 13-24 weeks after the steroids regimens. FSH and LH are hormones that stimulate the testes to produce testosterone. The researchers also looked at the recovery of the total testosterone concentration 16 weeks after the treatment for anabolics - and not at the recovery of the free or bioavailable testosterone.

Results
The researchers saw a complete recovery of the concentration of LH [first figure below] and FSH.

However, this did not apply to the testosterone concentration [second figure below]. It had not recovered 4 months after the steroids treatment.

Click on the figures for a larger version.

Conclusion

"The present meta-analysis showed that serum gonadotropin and endogenous testosterone levels decreased during a period of active anabolic steroids use in male athletes", write the researchers. "Hormone levels gradually returned to normal, although serum testosterone remained lower compared with baseline several weeks following anabolic steroidscessation."

"Moreover, a systematic review of the literature revealed that the effects of long-term anabolic steroids use include testicular atrophy, gynecomastia, and impairment of sperm characteristics in men, as well as clitoromegaly and menstrual irregularities in women, potentially affecting fertility in both sexes."

"Anabolic androgenic steroid abuse has negative, potentially serious long-terms effects on the reproductive system and general health of users; further action is necessary to manage this global public health issue, together with education of the public, athletes, trainers, and healthcare providers."